City BOE weighs calendar options

Main difference in three 2013-14 calendars is when the last day of school would be

By Jamon SmithStaff Writer

Published: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 11:40 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education Thursday reviewed three calendar options for next school year.

All three calendars for the 2013-14 school year have evenly divided semesters, offer the required 180 school days for students and start school on Aug. 19. But the last day of school for students, as well as vacation days, vary on each calendar.

In calendar option No. 1, students get out of school June 4, which is the latest end of the school year of all three calendars. However, calendar No. 1 also provides students with the most off days during the year.

Students are off on Labor Day, Oct. 18 for employee professional development, Veterans Day, five days for Thanksgiving, 11 days for Christmas and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, five days for spring break, April 25 for spring holiday and Memorial Day.

Calendar option No. 2 ends the school year for students May 29, nearly two weeks before school ends on calendar No. 1. But it shortens Thanksgiving break to three days instead of five.

Other off days for students are Labor Day, Veterans Day, 11 days for Christmas and New Year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, five days for spring break and April 25 for spring holiday.

Calendar option No. 3 ends school on May 30 and offers a full 11 days for Christmas break and five full days off for Thanksgiving and spring break, but students have fewer off days on other holidays.

The only additional off days students get are Labor Day, Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In a survey on which calendar is best that was given to school system employees and PTA members, 58.8 percent of the 814 people surveyed chose calendar No. 3. Calendar No. 1 came in second, with 25.2 percent of the vote.

Mike Daria, assistant superintendent of general administration, said Superintendent Paul McKendrick will recommend that school board approve calendar No. 3 at the board’s Feb. 26 meeting.

Daria said that if state lawmakers make changes to the Flexible School Calendar Act, which would allow school systems to opt out of starting school on Aug. 19, the calendar options may need to change.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education Thursday reviewed three calendar options for next school year.</p><p>All three calendars for the 2013-14 school year have evenly divided semesters, offer the required 180 school days for students and start school on Aug. 19. But the last day of school for students, as well as vacation days, vary on each calendar.</p><p>In calendar option No. 1, students get out of school June 4, which is the latest end of the school year of all three calendars. However, calendar No. 1 also provides students with the most off days during the year.</p><p>Students are off on Labor Day, Oct. 18 for employee professional development, Veterans Day, five days for Thanksgiving, 11 days for Christmas and New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, five days for spring break, April 25 for spring holiday and Memorial Day.</p><p>Calendar option No. 2 ends the school year for students May 29, nearly two weeks before school ends on calendar No. 1. But it shortens Thanksgiving break to three days instead of five.</p><p>Other off days for students are Labor Day, Veterans Day, 11 days for Christmas and New Year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, five days for spring break and April 25 for spring holiday.</p><p>Calendar option No. 3 ends school on May 30 and offers a full 11 days for Christmas break and five full days off for Thanksgiving and spring break, but students have fewer off days on other holidays.</p><p>The only additional off days students get are Labor Day, Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.</p><p>In a survey on which calendar is best that was given to school system employees and PTA members, 58.8 percent of the 814 people surveyed chose calendar No. 3. Calendar No. 1 came in second, with 25.2 percent of the vote.</p><p>Mike Daria, assistant superintendent of general administration, said Superintendent Paul McKendrick will recommend that school board approve calendar No. 3 at the board's Feb. 26 meeting.</p><p>Daria said that if state lawmakers make changes to the Flexible School Calendar Act, which would allow school systems to opt out of starting school on Aug. 19, the calendar options may need to change. </p><p>Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.</p>